148 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



are of an oblong form —two inches and 

 eight-twelfths in length, an inch and three- 

 fourths in breadth, and, like those of every 

 other species of cormorant, may be des- 

 cribed as having a thick roughish blueish- 

 white shell, irregularly crusted over with 

 a layer of white, calcareous matter, easily 

 removed with a sponge and water. 



There is nothing particularly estimable 

 in the character of the cormorant. It is 

 extremely attentive to its young, quiet and 

 inoffensive in its general conduct, of a 

 sluggish disposition, unless when in the 

 water, and then exhibiting the greatest 

 activity. Its voice is a low, hoarse croak, 

 seldom heard. Extremely voracious, it swal- 

 lows an enormous quantity of food ; but in 

 this respect it is rivalled by the gannet, the 

 goosanders, and indeed almost all sea-birds. 

 "When it betakes itself, as it sometimes does 

 in winter, to fish-ponds, it commits great 

 havoc. At that season, it often ascends rivers ; 

 and is sometimes seen perched on the trees, 

 which is no way remarkable, as the cormo- 

 rants of warm climates, when the shores are 

 low, not only perch, but nestle, on the man- 

 groves. It is easily tamed, and is then 

 familiar, and even manifests an affectionate 

 disposition. An interesting account is given 

 by Montagu of one which he kept for a long 

 time ; but as his narrative is too lengthy to 

 be inserted here, we shall present it in an 

 abridged form. 



The bird in question, was surprised by a 

 Newfoundland dog, belonging to a fisherman, 

 under the banks of a rivulet that ran into 

 the Bristol channel. In about a week it was 

 perfectly familiarised ; making one in the 

 family circle round the fire, and suffering the 

 caresses of the children, who were very un- 

 willing to part with it. On being conveyed 

 to the ornithologist's, and liberated, it was 

 offered everv sort of food at hand, there 

 being no fish ; but refused it, and therefore 

 was forcibly crammed with flesh. On being 

 removed to an aquatic menagerie, and let 

 loose, it instantly plunged into the water, 

 and dived incessantly ; but not obtaining a 

 single fish, appeared to be convinced there 

 were none, and made no other attempt for 

 three days, during which it was crammed with 

 flesh. Its proper food, however, was at length 

 procured for it. It dived, and seized its prey 

 with surprising dexterity ; frequently pro- 

 ceeding under the surface to the place where 

 a fish had been thrown, and when the water 

 was clear, taking it with certainty, often be- 

 fore it fell to the bottom. It readily de- 

 voured three or four pounds of fish, twice a 

 day, so rapid was its digestion. When a large 

 fish stuck in the gullet, it inflated that part, 

 and shook the head and neck violently to 

 promote its passage. In fishing it always 

 carried the head under water, in order, ap- 



parently, to discover its prey at a greater 

 distance, and with more certainty. All fish 

 were invariably tinned in the bill, so as to 

 present the head foremost ; and when an eel, 

 the most favorite food, was not seized favor- 

 ably, it was thrown up to some distance, 

 and caught in such a manner as to render 

 deglutition easy. It had a habit of beating 

 the water with its wings violently, without 

 moving from the spot ; each beating being 

 succeeded by a shake of the whole body and 

 a ruffling of all the feathers, at the same time 

 covering itself with the water. This action 

 it repeated ten or twenty times with small 

 intervals of rest, and then repaired to a stump, 

 or some elevated place on shore, and spread 

 or flapped its whigs until they were dry. It 

 lived in perfect harmony with other birds, 

 and never attempted to ramble ; but walking 

 to the house, entered the first open door 

 without deference to any one, and in fact was 

 trouble somely tame. 



Mr. Audubon accounts for the flappings 

 above mentioned hi this manner : — ' Cormo 

 rants, pelicans, ducks, and other water birds 

 of various kinds, are, like land birds, at 

 times infested with insects, which lodge near 

 the roots of their feathers ; and to clear 

 themselves of this vermin, they beat up the 

 water about them by flapping their wings, 

 their feathers being all the while ruffled up. 

 They rub or scratch themselves with their feet 

 and claws, much in the same manner as tur- 

 keys and most land-birds act, when scatter- 

 ing up the dry warm earth or sand over them. 

 The water-birds, after thus cleaning them- 

 selves, remove, if perchers and able to fly, 

 to the branches of trees, spread out their 

 wings and tail in the sun, and after a while 

 dress their plumage. Those which are not 

 perchers, or whose wings are too wet, swim 

 to the shores, or to such banks or rocks as 

 are above water, and there perform the same 

 process.' 



This species is not nearly so common in 

 ! the Hebrides, or along the western and north- 

 \ ern coasts of Scotland, as the crested cor- 

 j morant. In Shetland, as Dr. Edmonston in- 

 i forms me, "it is pretty numerous, though not 

 | by far so much so as the shag. It is," he 

 > continues, " social in the breeding season, 

 ■ several pairs having their nests near each 

 other on the same cliff, and at a greater alti- 

 tude than the other species. It also, at other 

 seasons, perches and roosts in higher situa- 

 tions, and has a more lofty and easy flight. 

 | Its mode of diving is somewhat like that of 

 the great northern diver, gliding gently un- 

 der, not like the shag, per saltitm. It is very 

 easily tamed, and displays great sagacity, 

 gentleness, and affection. I see no reason 

 why it might not be made of as great use as 

 ' its fishing relative in China. The young 

 ; often frequent fresh-water lochs. It is a beau- 



